How You Can Help

Yeavering Bell

• Make sure you know where archaeological sites on your land are located, and whether any of them are legally protected.
• Many interesting sites are newly discovered in the Park every year, so if you know of any humps and bumps which you think may be of interest please tell the National Park Archaeologist who will be pleased to examine them with you.
• Cast an eye over any freshly ploughed fields as ancient objects are often unearthed by the plough.
• If you find anything which may be of interest then please contact the National Park Archaeologist. Occasional stray finds can sometimes lead to the discovery of important buried sites.
• Please keep metal detectorists away from ancient monuments. Metal objects from such sites are rarely of great monetary value, but if uncovered as part of a proper excavation they can tell us much about the people who originally made and used them. Remember that it is illegal to use a metal detector on a scheduled archaeological site.
• Consider the potential archaeological implications before making any changes, for example before ploughing a field for the first time, planting trees on a previously unwooded area, relocating a feeding station, or cutting drainage channels.
• If you are in any doubt about possible damage to a site then please contact the National Park Archaeologist. It is a shame when ancient sites are damaged or destroyed, but if this is unavoidable then provision can often be made to record a site before it is damaged.